With Dany Heatley announcing he wants out of Ottawa and into the Western conference you can bet that 14 teams in West are preparing their offer. The Wings can’t take Heatley because he makes more than Lidstrom and that goes against their policy, not to mention Zetterberg and Datsyuk make less as well.

It is rare to see a superstar traded for a superstar. The last time it happened, Heatley was dealt for Marian Hossa. In the West, there are only two players that fit the bill for this to happen again.

Rick Nash and Dion Phaneuf.

Those trades are at least plausible, although with Phaneuf only 24 and Nash 25, I wonder if the Jackets and Flames would have some reservations.

No other team in the western conference has a guy that would be a realistic option. The Ducks aren’t moving Getzlaf for Heatley. Getzlaf brings way more to the table. The Oilers, Blues, Wild, Avalanche, Stars, Canucks, Sharks and Coyotes have no one even close. Luongo has one year left on his deal, and the Sens have Leclaire locked in at $3.8 million.

Guys like Shea Weber, Duncan Keith and Anze Kopitar would get the discussion started but aren’t enough straight up.

So let’s look at some realistic options, and take into account age, salary and the Sens’ needs. Their most glaring need is a top two D-man, and those are hard to find, or at least a proven offensive D-man. They need some scoring depth, preferably a LW, but if he can score and plays C or RW they will take him.

I said the Wings are out, and I can guarantee that Heatley doesn’t want to go to the mess in Phoenix. We can argue all day about which destinations are the best, but I’d rather look at who can make viable offers.

Remember that it is very rare that teams come close to giving up fair value when acquiring a top-end talent in his prime. The Oilers fleeced the Blues when they got the Human Rake, the Ducks fleeced the Oilers for the same Rake and the Sharks fleeced the Bruins for Jumbo Joe. Ask Habs fans if they got market value for Patrick Roy.

The Blues got Brewer, Lynch and Woywitka. The Oilers got Lupul, Smid and 1st and a bonus 1st because the Ducks won the Cup. The Bruins got Sturm, Stuart and Wayne Primeau. The Habs got Kovalenko, Thibault and Rucinsky while Keane went with Roy.

One of the best players traded recently was Brad Richards to Dallas and the Lightning got Jeff Halpern, Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and 4th rounder for Richards and Johan Holmqvist. The odds are the Sens won’t get as big a return as many will predict in the next few weeks.

KINGS

They have loads of cap space and lots of good young prospects. Would Alexander Frolov and Jack Johnson be enough? With a prospect involved it would be close, as long as Johnson doesn’t actually want $5 a season. If he does he’ll be sitting out for a long time.

SHARKS

Vlasic and Ehrhoff are the most attractive on the back end, but it would take them plus a good forward to get the convo started. Marleau and his $6.3 million is not a contract the Sens would want. The Sharks biggest problem is that they only have 13 guys under contract and I don’t see them parting with Boyle. Doug Wilson has a reputation of making surprise moves, so you can’t rule out the Sharks. If the Sens could get Clowe signed then I could see the Sharks getting involved, but they would have to move Marleau after because they would have way too much salary (over $52 million) tied up in 13 guys.

STARS

How good would Joe Nieuwendyk look if one of his first moves was to acquire Heatley? The Stars have cap space to play with, but do they have enough to entice the Sens? The Sens would love Morrow but I don’t see the Stars trading their captain. They have no one who is close to a top-two D-man, so I don’t see them being in the hunt.

DUCKS

They always seem to be involved in trades. The Whitney for Kunitz deal surprised many, but they wanted him to replace Niedermayer and the Human Rake. If they move Whitney their backend becomes pretty thin. They have three young guns in Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan, but after that they have no forwards that would entice the Sens. I think the Sens would take Ryan, but I doubt Anaheim wants to move him.

BLUE JACKETS

Nash straight up would be interesting, but I doubt we’ll see that. Scott Howson has some good young players and decent depth on his backend. Would a Hejda, Klesla and Voracek get the convo started? I think it might. The Sens need some depth on the backend and while neither of those two is overly offensive, they can comfortably play 20 minutes each. Rumours are swirling that the Jackets might have to trim some salary, so I wonder how it would look if they bring in a guy making $7.5 million.

PREDATORS

They love Shea Weber and he only seems to be getting better. This would be gutsy move by the Preds, but Poile has shown a propensity to make those moves in recent years. What about Suter, Erat and Tootoo? The Sens would add just over a million in salary but they’d get three players, and Tootoo could replace Chris Neil.

BLUES

Would the Blues part with young Erik Johnson? Larry Pleau would love to make a splash and get a gunner like Heatley and could make a reasonable offer of young guys. Would Jackman, Oshie and Perron be too much or not enough proven talent? The Blues have Boyes and Backes as well. I think Pleau and the Blues have to be considered a legitimate option. The only problem is if Heatley didn’t like Cory Clouston, is there any chance he’ll play for Andy Murray?

BLACKHAWKS

They have lots of young talent but none are proven scorers just yet. Does Dale Tallon try to speed up the process and get a sniper? Trading Keith might not seem wise, but he only has a year left before he gets a big raise. I think the Hawks could put together the best offer; the question is whether Tallon wants to let his young guys grow together or try to win now? Toews and Kane seem untouchable, but Sharp, Barker and Versteeg could still be a great package. It will be interesting to watch if Tallon gives up potential for proven value. I’d go with the proven value.

AVALANCHE

After watching them hang their coach out to dry, the expected retirement of Joe Sakic, and no top end D-man that would fit the Sens’ need I don’t see any way that rookie GM Greg Sherman gets into the sweepstakes.

WILD

Chuck Fletcher would love to land Heatley to replace Gaborik. Maybe he gives the Sens permission to talk to Gaborik and if they come to a contract agreement they trade snipers. The Sens might want another body, because of Gaborik’s health history, but a Gaborik for Heatley deal would make for a great debate on who won the deal. I don’t think Johnsson, Zidlicky or Schultz is good enough as a starting point for a three-for-one deal. Outside of the Gaborik longshot I don’t see the Wild being involved.

FLAMES

It is interesting to hear how Phaneuf is perceived amongst fans and the players. In a recent poll he was voted the most overrated player in the game, while many others still see him as a Norris Trophy candidate for many years to come. The only way the Flames can bring Heatley back to his home town is by dealing one of their big tickets. I can’t see them moving Iginla or Kiprusoff so that leaves Jokinen and Regehr. No chance the Sens take Jokinen, so if they don’t want to part with Phaneuf it would have to be Regehr. The problem is the Flames don’t have any forwards that would interest the Sens, unless the Sens would take Cammalleri. And if he wants over $5 million I don’t see that happening. Heatley’s parents live just outside Calgary, so the Flames will be in the hunt, but would they deal Phaneuf? Would you Flames fans?

CANUCKS

Many of Mike Gillis’ best assets are UFAs in the Sedin Sisters and Ohlund, but could a package of Bieksa, Kesler and the speedy Raymond land him Heatley? It might, but that would leave the Canucks with eleven players signed for only $35 million, and that would end any chance of re-signing the twins. Maybe Gillis gives the Sens permission to talk to the Sisters, and if they can sign them for $11 million maybe he’d take Heatley and Filip Kuba. The Sens get some offensive depth, and the Canucks don’t trade part with a signed player. Bryan Murray will look at every option to try and keep his team competitive.

OILERS

The Oilers have depth at the one position the Sens really want; offensive D-man. Souray and Visnovsky have NMC in their contract, and their age probably doesn’t intrigue the Sens, but Gilbert and Grebeshkov are two guys the Sens would like. Gilbert has more value around the league, so a package would have to start with him. Gilbert, Cogliano and Pisani would at least get them in the conversation. Maybe the Sens ask for O’Sullivan instead of Pisani. The Sens will have no interest in Penner, Horcoff or Nilsson. So that limits the Oilers in what package they can offer, but a Gilbert, Cogliano, O’Sullivan package seems comparable to what the other teams will offer.

Heatley has a 4 million dollar signing bonus due on July 1st, and since you can’t exchange money in trades, you’d expect this trade to occur before then. You’d expect Murray to move him before then, because once teams start to sign UFAs that would reduce the amount of teams that could afford Heatley’s large salary.

I think it is realistic to say that there are 10 teams in the West who have a realistic shot of offering the Sens a package they would like. The biggest hurdle will be if Heatley agrees to go to that team. To me it is absolutely ridiculous that a player asks for a no-trade clause and then one year later wants to get traded.

Either way many teams, and their fans, will be hoping to land one of the few proven snipers in the league.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

I kind of think you're overvaluing Heatley. It's not like his contract is a bargain at 7.5 mil. Nearly all your packages are too much, IMO, I don't see teams moving multiple cheap good players to acquire Heatley, hard to see how it makes "cap sense".

And I disagree that Keith wouldn't be enough straight up, I think OTT makes that deal quickly.

Actually, I shouldn't say that, I suppose CHI might consider it if they KNEW they could sign Bouwmeester or another UFA D this summer.

They'd have to let Havlat go to make it work under the cap, so they'd essentially be trading Havlat and Keith for Heatley and Bouwmeester, paying 7 or 8 mil more this year for that combo and ??? more going forward. I don't think they make that deal, but I suppose it's possible.

No way the Oil are giving up 3 roster players if 1 of those guys is named Cogs or Gags. Not a chance. At the top of your article you noted that in recent History the team losing the Star doesnt get close to value, and a lot of the guys you've highlighted are pretty good deals for the Sens. Frolov and Johnson. Thats a duo that could get a lot around the league, and probably a little overkill to get a player who is demanding out of his current team.

Heatley is an amazing player, but the Sens would be lucky to get a top 2 PMD, a serviceable Vet like Pisani, AND a roster player like Cogs who has a bright future ahead of him.

When the Sharks land Heatley, the Oil moves Sheldon Souray and Ethan Moreau to San Jose for Patrick Marleau and Douglas Murray. Also, I think they've got big time interest in moving up to the 4/5 spot for Evander Kane. Could the Oil flip picks with Atlanta in a deal where Kari Lehtonen and Colby Armstrong also come back? You could move Staios for a late round pick, right? Nilsson? Sign Bouwmeester.

Other then 22 year old Jovanaski (who had been a minor disapointment up to that point) the Canucks really didn’t recieve a whole lot.

He was still a good prospect though, and he panned out pretty well.

Heatley is a perennial top-ten scorer, I'd do whatever I could to get him, even at 7.5 per.

I'd trade Gilbert and (O')Sullivan I think they could make some sweet music together in Ottawa. Funny, up-beat music that only old people find hilarious. Might throw in Eberle, or another prospect, but not Gilbert, Gags/Cogs AND Sully.

RE: Nilsson. Could they pull the same type of move Tampa pulled with Radim Vrbata? Bury him in Europe? Or bury him in the minors if you can't move him. He could come into camp as a wildcard if nothing else.

This is a great time for Tambo to shuffle the deck and try and get some more fire power here. One thing is for sure, our biggest weakness is a scoring winger, and has been for years. Look at the amount of quality wingers that COULD be available this summer...

-Heatley
-Havlat
-Jagr
-Gaborik
-Hossa
-D.Sedin
-Kovalev
-Sullivan

Whether it's Heatley or someone else on the list, it's probably the best crop in a while. Boy would it be nice to acquire Heatley this season, and then sign Nash as a UFA next season... (drools into a 11.4 liter ice cream bucket until it over-flows)

I like Bryzgalov, but what would Phoenix do for goaltending. Regardless of where they end up (Phoenix? Hamilton? Kansas City?) they will need a proven goaltender. I like Mikael Tellqvist but that's not him. If we can land Bryz, I will buy his jersey.

I do Cogliano, Gilbert, and O'Sullivan/Pisani for Heatley easily. While I agree it's much, that'd be a steal for the Oilers, especially if they take Pisani's +2 mil off the books.
Also, Weber is a way better defenceman than Phaneuf.

Apparently McKenzie is on the TEAM at 7:15am Edmonton time and will help shake down what’s going on.

It's interesting to hear opinions about our team from someone outside. We spend so much time debating about, say, whether Hemsky is 'great' or 'elite' and McKenzie comes on and calls him a 'glorified 23 goal scorer'. Snap.

I would not rule out the Sens having to take a guy like Penner or Staois in the deal. Let's not forget they are trying to dump a $7.5M cap hit in tough economic times with a shrinking cap. They are not dealing from a position of strength here. One of your stars demands a trade and is making a boatload of cash. Both count against the Sens getting true value.

Ogden Brother wrote:
Other then 22 year old Jovanaski (who had been a minor disapointment up to that point) the Canucks really didn’t recieve a whole lot.
He was still a good prospect though, and he panned out pretty well.
Heatley is a perennial top-ten scorer, I’d do whatever I could to get him, even at 7.5 per.
I’d trade Gilbert and (O’)Sullivan I think they could make some sweet music together in Ottawa. Funny, up-beat music that only old people find hilarious. Might throw in Eberle, or another prospect, but not Gilbert, Gags/Cogs AND Sully.

He certainly was a good prospect at the time, but a former #1 overall, picked as a Dman with high end offense that was going into year 5 without cracking 25 points is starting to have some serious question marks. And he was by far and away the best piece Vancouver got.

That said, I think your close to what it would take: Gilbert/O'sully/High pick or top prospect.

Gilbert, Cogliano and O'Sullivan is too high a price too pay, mostly because of the cap; that's three cheap, effective guys for one big scorer - and the Oilers are going to need cheap, effective guys.

Gilbert, Cogliano/O'Sullivan, and Eberle. Heatley's coming off too sub-par seasons, and with both Havlat and Gaborik approaching unrestricted free agency and given Heatley's deal, I'm not at all sure he's as hot a commodity as Ottawa would like.

Just as some could argue that Heatley is being overvalued, perhaps those same fans are overvaluing Gilbert, Cogliano, and O'Sullivan? We Oiler fans have a history of overvaluing our prospects/young players...

I'm just saying...a player of Heatley's calibre who would want to play in Edmonton doesn't come around often.

Incidentally, I've been looking at blogs for teams around the league, and there's surprisingly little interest in Heatley.

Most of them knock his character; this is his second trade request, and he wants out because he was upset with Cory Clouston (who hasn't even been there half a season). He's not much of a two-way player, either, and he's bloody expensive.

Don't get me wrong, as a GM I'd still be interested, but I wonder if perhaps we're overstating the number of teams interested in him. Just a thought.

@ Jonathan Willis:
couldnt agree more about the Gregor package being a little too pricy. And I think people need to forget about superstars vs utility guys and prospects. Trades like this do not return fair value. It doesnt matter if some people think that Gilbert, Sullivan, and Cogs is closer to fair value for Heatley, because this trade isnt going to be a hockey trade.

The Sens would be lucky to get ANY of the players mentioned from the Teams Gregor listed, nevermind all of the players from each team mentioned. The biggest need on the Sens is a PMD and the Oilers might be the only team actively shopping one of their PMDs anyway. I doubt that there are too many teams that will be offering a guy better than Gilbert right off the bat. Maybe after some kinda bidding war, but I bet it doesnt get that far.

I wonder if the lustre hasn't come off Jack Johnson. He's already been traded once, will probably be traded again, was -15 in only 41 games this year (worst pace on the team) and is coming off a serious shoulder injury.

Still a good player, IMO, but after squabbling with Carolina and with things going south in LA I think any team interested would need to ask some serious questions.

But does Heatley want to go to Los Angeles? It’s Heatley’s choice, not Murray’s.

I know that if I were Bryan Murray, the conversation would go something like this:

HEATLEY: Brian, I don't like Cory and I want a trade.
MURRAY: So you're waiving your no-movement clause?
HEATLEY: No, I still have to approve any destination.
MURRAY: Go to hell.
HEALTEY: I won't waive my no-movement clause to go to hell. I'll consider a dozen or so teams in the Western Conference.
MURRAY: You're demanding a trade. Either give me the ability to make one, or get comfortable to play the next five years here in Ottawa.

If Hemsky is what gets the ball rolling on this deal I would easily do it. We have enough playmakers on the team that could get the job done with Heatley's finish.

Soon enough Gagner is going to be a very good, possibly great playmaker just like Hemsky and when that time comes what happens? Hemsky to Gagner back to Hemsky who moves it over to Gagner then quickly back to Hemsky... and so on. Basically what I'm trying to get at is having a Heatley-Hemsky duo would be great but it probably isn't realistic and I would much rather see Heatley-Gagner in the future then Hemsky-Gagner.

@ Jonathan Willis:
I like your proposal Jon. I wouldnt pay more than that. I wonder if Edmonton becomes a serious trading partner whether or not Murray will be asking Smith for some advice about guys here. Maybe one of the older guys leaves here with Gator's endorsement.

A trade for Heatley means the Oilers are interested in contending now. Trading Hemsky means that the Oilers don't have a RW on the first line to contend with.

In other words, if Hemsky is the cost, I'd rather continue with a slower rebuild and put together a complete team rather than stripping off young talent to build a team that isn't good enough to contend anyway.

Heatley/Hemsky give this team a great duo up front. Heatley for Hemsky fills one hole while creating another - the hole it fills is probably bigger, but it cost an extra 3MM or so in salary to do it and there's still a gaping hole.

I agree that perhaps some of the lustre has worn off Johnson, but if Ottawa wants a d man, johnson would likely be in play. The real intriguing part to the Sens is a chance to move up into the top 5. I think the top 7 picks are well above and beyond picks 8 and later. Not to mention the cap space they could free up to land a guy like Cammalleri. And why wouldn't Heatley want to go to LA? Beach, weather, team on the rise, chance to still play with an elite center in Kopitar.

Heatley’s reportedly willing to waive his NMC to come to Edmonton. Here’s what I think it would take to get him here.

Pretty much bang on (your article) though I could see Ott being interested in Nilsson as a throw in, one of their biggest problems last year was a lack of forward depth, they literally had one elite line and 3 3rd/4th lines.

@ RossCreek:
I wonder if the lustre hasn’t come off Jack Johnson. He’s already been traded once, will probably be traded again, was -15 in only 41 games this year (worst pace on the team) and is coming off a serious shoulder injury.
Still a good player, IMO, but after squabbling with Carolina and with things going south in LA I think any team interested would need to ask some serious questions.

Agreed again, JJ is probably one of the most overated players in the league. Sure he's got potential, but he's really done nothing and he's got attitude problems to boot.

Good thing I refreshed the page, I was about to rip into him for offering up Hemsky but I knew someone would do a better job ;)

Short of Hemsky and Gagner, I would consider moving anyone to pick up Heatley. I agree that Gilbert, O'Sullivan and Cogliano is a bit of a steep asking price, but if that's what it takes so be it.

This one-shot scorer to play with Hemsky that everyone has been clamoring for year after year, Heatley is that guy. Best of all, he can be had through trade rather than free agency. If we want to get someone like Hossa, the bidding STARTS at 7.5M (and personally I like Heatley over Hossa at equal salaries), he has to be convinced to go to Edmonton over any other destination, and then we have to find a way to free up the cap space to sign him which probably means trading away guys for less than their value.

Jonathan Willis wrote:
@ RossCreek:
I wonder if the lustre hasn’t come off Jack Johnson. He’s already been traded once, will probably be traded again, was -15 in only 41 games this year (worst pace on the team) and is coming off a serious shoulder injury.
Still a good player, IMO, but after squabbling with Carolina and with things going south in LA I think any team interested would need to ask some serious questions.
Agreed again, JJ is probably one of the most overated players in the league. Sure he’s got potential, but he’s really done nothing and he’s got attitude problems to boot.

Also, in a few weeks it will be 4 years from his draft class, so he's getting close to put up or shut up time.

@ Jonathan Willis:
Good thing I refreshed the page, I was about to rip into him for offering up Hemsky but I knew someone would do a better job
Short of Hemsky and Gagner, I would consider moving anyone to pick up Heatley. I agree that Gilbert, O’Sullivan and Cogliano is a bit of a steep asking price, but if that’s what it takes so be it.
This one-shot scorer to play with Hemsky that everyone has been clamoring for year after year, Heatley is that guy. Best of all, he can be had through trade rather than free agency. If we want to get someone like Hossa, the bidding STARTS at 7.5M (and personally I like Heatley over Hossa at equal salaries), he has to be convinced to go to Edmonton over any other destination, and then we have to find a way to free up the cap space to sign him which probably means trading away guys for less than their value.
If I’m Tambo I do everything in my power to make this happen.

But on the flip side, if we signed Hossa for Heatly's contract, we could probably trade Gilbert and O'sully for a basket of picks/prospects. We'd actually come out ahead ;)

Brent Sutter stepped down from the Devils! Looks like he could be the next Head Coach of the Oilers!……What’s that?…..Really? We already signed one of those?….Nevermind, Carry on.

On that topic, is there anyone at all out there who thinks he won't sign with the Flames? You heard it here first; if they miss the playoffs/get knocked out in round 1 again, Daryl and Brent Sutter will end up getting into a fistfight during the press conference.

Does Gilbert, Cogliano and O’Sullivan for Heatley and Lee get it done for you guys

I dont know much about Lee at all. He doesnt seem like he would be a better NHLer than Cogs. That is the part of the Deal where i think the Oil would be over-paying. I really dont think it would take that much to get Heatley at this point.

Just my opinion Arch, but over the past few months I've come to the conclusion that you over value Cogliano. Moreso than anyone else. That is not to say that I think he is no good, just that I think you over value him. Is he your favorite Oiler? Just asking.